Monday, April 20, 2015

Govt assures security to investigative journalists

THE Government is preparing a bill that
would protect investigative journalists and those citizens who dedicates their
lives over the fight of illicit drug trafficking by exposing people who engage
in the illegal business which has become so rampant in the country. The
Attorney General George Masaju made the declaration yesterday in Dar es Salaam
when he officiated the graduation ceremony that culminated the handing over of
the certificates of attendance to 18 journalists in the country who had
undergone a seven month short training on combating drugs and illegal
trafficking in Tanzania and on Millennium development goals. The trainings were
sponsored by the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) in collaboration with United Nations
Information office in Dar es Salaam, benefited eight senior journalists and ten
female journalists of various media outlets mostly of the electronic media and.
The eight female journalists are those
who won the 2013 Media Awards provided by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT)
and who the TMF had promised to train on various areas that cover Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) in the country. In his speech, the AG Masaju noted
that, the rationale behind the idea of preparing a bill which later would be
enacted in Parliament as a protective Act is to strengthen the intensive task
that would enable people to expose more mischief on drug baron deal which has
now become a global issue. “The government is preparing the bill and once it
would be passed into a law would protect journalists and other good citizens
who would expose such mischief in their publications as a way to facilitate the
fight and their identities would be concealed according to the laws to make
them safer”, he said. Some of the eight senior journalists who were awarded
with the certificates said that, had encountered lots of difficulties in practicing
their experiences attained after the training for the last two months and some
noted that were nearly stoned to death when chasing investigative stories. Others
maintained that were threatened to death together with their relatives while
were on the move to find out the truth about the situation in various places
they visited to carry an investigation. The Managing Editor of the Swahili
investigative tabloid called ‘Jamhuri’ Deudastus Balile said that, journalists
should not rely on the old style of writing news as the world has changed and
therefore journalists needs to cope with new styles that tells their own
stories. However, he noted that journalists have to risk out their lives and
take precautionary measures when chasing such stories as it is resentful to the
businessmen dealing with such illegal deal. He said that, care is greatly
needed otherwise the nation would continue suffer under the yoke of the few
greedy business people who would bring bad image to the nation if are not
tackled to stop the this illegal trade. Ndimara Tegamwage who was a mentor in
these trainings noted that fear should not overcome journalists when writing
such investigative stories, and called on editors of various publications to publish
such types of stories in their publications as a way to help the nation solve
the problem. However, he queried why no any journalists in the country who has
ever gone and asked the President about the issue who earlier on had confessed
himself to have known all illegal drug dealers in the country. Fili Karashani
who was also a mentor in these trainings noted that, there is high time for
Tanzania media industry need to be changed and focus more on the people’s life
as a way to promote the unprivileged groups. Karashani among the veteran
journalists in the country has a long history of journalism and cautioned
journalists to observe objectivity while reporting news.

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.